Page 77 of An Unexpected Turn
He cocked his head from side to side.
“How about my house? Mike is going away with Aaron’s family until Sunday, so for the first time in months, I have the entire place to myself.” His hands coasted down my back and cupped my ass. “We could have tonight, all day tomorrow, and half of Sunday. Every room, every surface.”
I laughed, catching some of his excitement despite my trepidation.
“What time is Mike coming back on Sunday?”
He shrugged. “Afternoon, I think, but it doesn’t matter. He knows and he’s good with it, so you don’t have to run out so he doesn’t catch you. It’s a small step, but an important one.” He pressed his lips to my forehead. “I canfinallywake up next to you.”
“That sounds like heaven,” I said, drifting my hands down the front of his jacket. It really did sound like the best kind of dream, so why wasn’t I running toward the door? I didn’t know Jake’s neighbors or how well they knew my family, although all of Kelly Lakes knewofmy family. Two days where I didn’t have to walk Jake to my door and wonder which night the following weekend I’d get to spend with him sounded amazing, but too brazen for my comfort.
“What’s wrong?” Jake asked, his smile fading. “I thought you’d be happy to spend the weekend with me.”
“I am, believe me. It’s just ... I hate that it feels like you’re sneaking me into your house.”
“Well, I’m not.” He squared his shoulders. “My son will know you’re there. You’re walking in the front door, no one is going to recognize you as Keith’s niece, and if they do ...” He lifted a shoulder. “It’s not their business. We’re almost there. We just need to get Keith alone and get it over with. In all the years I’ve known him, it’s never been this difficult to see him, but we’ll tell him the first chance we get.” His mouth curved in a crooked smile as he dragged his calloused thumb over my bottom lip. “So, please, come home with me.”
“Okay,” I whispered, and kissed his jaw. “Let me pack a bag, and we’ll go.”
“It shouldn’t take that long. You don’t need any clothes. You can have your pick of any shirt of mine that you want.”
“I may steal some.” I crinkled my nose and buried my head into his chest.
“All I have is yours, baby.” He swatted my ass and nodded toward the hallway. “Let’s go.”
I knew where Jake lived, but this was the first time I’d ever been to his house. Taking what we had out in the open, or at least outside my condo, seemed like a significant step. I wanted to believe Jake that we were close to the end, but the more time we weren’t honest with everyone—everyone being my uncle—the more we risked being caught.
“I didn’t know your house was this big.” I took in the simple gray house with the wide bay windows as Jake pulled into the driveway. “You never wanted to get something smaller?”
“We bought this house when Mike was born,” Jake told me as he unlocked the front door. “When I divorced his mother, I considered getting a smaller place, but I like where I live and wanted Mike to keep his room. I tried to keep the constants in his life where I could.”
“You’ve done more than try. I think you’re the biggest constant in his life, period.”
A blush ran up his cheeks as a shy smile stretched his mouth. “I tried. It’s nice to have a little confirmation lately that I did my job, even if I couldn’t fix everything for him.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t make it a full man cave like my uncle,” I said, scanning the living room.
“I have my share of sports stuff.” He pointed to the framed hockey jersey on the wall. The gray leather couches and simple black furniture seemed lived-in and cozy, not what I’d expected from a man who’d lived mostly alone until a few months ago.
“I always hoped he’d come to live with me full time someday, and even though it didn’t happen until he was older, I kept the home he was used to.”
Whenever he talked about Mike, I fell in love with Jake all over again. He never saw anything he did as a big deal, but he’d revolved his entire life around his son, even when he had limited custody. Jake had a huge heart full of love, and as much as he tried to fix everything for everyone, no one took care of him.
I wanted nothing more than to spend the next lifetime changing that.
“Mike left right after school. He came home to get his bag and texted me when they were on the road.” His lips quirked into a smile. “I love having you here,” he rasped, grabbing my hand and pulling me flush to his body.
I chewed on my bottom lip when I met his gaze.
“So, you’re saying we’re alone,” I whispered, hooking my thumb into the belt loop of his jeans. “For two whole days.” I drifted my fingers back and forth along the inside of his waistband until I unbuckled his pants.
“We are.” He groaned when I wrapped my hand around his cock, already hard and straining against my palm.
“I can do anything I want to you?”
“Fuck, yes. Please.”
I sank to my knees, pulling down his jeans and boxers until his cock bounced against his stomach.
